1925-2023

Jean Audrey Masini

Jean Audrey Masini was 98 years old when she died peacefully in her home in Idyllwild Monday, June 26, 2023.

Her story began in Manhattan, New York, Feb. 5, 1925. She lived in Harlem until her large family of 12 moved to Long Island.

  As a young woman, she traveled on the Long Island Railroad to work as a secretary for Raytheon in New York City.  She married Charles Mims, moved to Norfolk, Virginia, and they had three daughters, Leonora (Ginger), Jeanne (Rusty) and Lucy.  Tragically, Charles died young, and Jean was on her own raising a family.

  She later married John Masini.  He adored her and he also loved to cook.  They had a daughter, Deborah. 

Jean also was a great-great grandmother.

  Jean was a good golfer, she loved fashion and she loved to dance. She played cards whenever she had a partner brave enough to play her. She was strong, independent and witty.

  Jean loved Idyllwild and our lovely community, especially the music, the summer concerts, the jazz festival and meeting up with friends and family.

  In lieu of flowers, we ask donations be made to our community, at the Idyllwild Help Center.

  A celebration of her life will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at Idyllwild Arts Krone Library.

Similar Posts

  • Obituary: Bill Matthews

    Bill Matthews passed away May 8, 2012, at home. He was born in 1935 in Los Angeles, Calif. He worked in his father’s auto repair shop until serving in the Marine Corps from 1953 to 1956. He had a career as a diesel truck mechanic and supervisor for the Los Angeles Times truck fleet and…

  • Obituary: Bill Chindlund

    Bill Chindlund passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday morning, Sept. 7, while on his daily walk on May Valley Road. He was 67. Cause of death is still being determined. Bill moved to Idyllwild with his wife, Charlene, in May 2004, and had explored most of the trails in the local mountains. A lover…

  • Obituary: Sidney Riches

    Retired Lt. Col. Sidney A. Riches, 91-1/2, of Mountain Center, died Monday, May 15, 2006 of natural causes at Hemet Valley Medical Center. Mr. Riches was born Dec. 13, 1914 in Superior, Wis. He served in the U.S. Army from 1940 until his retirement in 1968. He also owned a laundry business and was a…

  • Obituary: Thomas Alvin Fresh

    Long-time Idyllwild resident, teacher and artist Thomas Alvin Fresh Jr. passed away Monday, July 25, 2005 in Ojai. Mr. Fresh was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Alvin Fresh Sr. of Stone Mountain, Ga. He is survived by his daughter, Leslie E. Fresh of Albuquerque, N.M.; a son, Andreas T.F. Fresh…

  • Obituary: Allen ‘Doug’ Wood

    Allen Douglas Wood, 58, passed away Friday, Jan. 4, after a long battle with cancer. Doug was born Aug. 15, 1949, in Hemet, and lived his entire life in Idyllwild. His career included 17 years with the U.S. Forest Service in Idyllwild, five years as an owner-operator of a trucking company, and 17 years with…